Apparatus for the packaging of milk



'Sept. 15, 1942; c. E. POPE APPARATUS FOR THE P CKAGING OF MILK .E 1 P t 0 w P M m U S A H & WM N\ 9 5 m S .W\k .w A d k\ e w wry/r0 Sept. 15, 1942. Q E P PE 2,29 ,052

APPARATUS FOR THE PACKAGING OF MILK 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 H6 ga- CZ Al/Df 7 POPE J M/E/WQR ATTORNEY Sept. 15,1942. c; E POPE 2,296,052 v APPARATUS FOR THE PAQKAGING OF MILK File d April 3, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 0441/05 E. POPE mzwm Arid M65) C. E. POPE APPARATUS FOR THE PACKAGING OF MI LK Sept. 15, 1942.

l] Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 3, 1939 w a 5 \hhh m mfiw n| AQ W a a. 4 wmm, E B 3m mmwm m? mhh $0 kw p5 Y MN bvhw .SR 5 5m CLAUDE 5 POPE p us, 1942. c. E. POPE 2,296,052

APPARATUS FOR THE PACKAGING 0F MILK Filed April 3, 1959 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Q I Pigm- Sept- I c. E. POPE 2,296,052 r I APPARATUS FOR THE PACKAGING OF MILK I M/VE/VTOF? 222 0A F'iqE 04 41/05 5. POPE Sept. 15,1942. v c; E. POPE 2,296,052 I u APPARATUS FOR THE PACKAGING 0F MILK Filed April 5, 1939 11 sheets-sheet 7 F/qZZIZ CZ 21005 E. Paps I/VVE N7" 0/? 4 TI'OPIVE) Sept. 15, 1942.

C. E. POPE APPARATUS FOR THE PACKAGING OF MILK Filed April 3, 1939 l] Sheets- Sheet 8 04/700525. POPE JTTOPIVEV $6 515, 1942. c. E. POPE 2,296,052

' APPARATUS FOR THE PACKAGING OF MILK Filed April 3, 1939 l] Sheets-Sheet? I C4 TTOFP/Vf) Sept. 15, 1942. 4c. E. POP 2,296,052

APPARATUS FOR THE PAGKAGING OF M IIJK Filed April 3, 1959 l] Sheets-Sheet l0 aim/05 C POPE v INVE/VTDH Sept. 15, 1942. c. E. POPE 2 2,296,052

APPARATUS FOR THE PACKAGING 0F MILK Filed April 3, 1939 lJSh'eets-Sheet ll V w D 4; A39

F iqml? PatenteclSept. 15, 1942 a V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,296,05 APPARATUS ron. THE racxaomc or MILK Claude E. Pope, Oakland, Calif. Application April 3, 1939, Serial No. 265,806

(Cl. sis-39.1

58 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of packaging plant for the reasons that; among other things,

a great number of containers may be transported to and stored at the filling plant in a comparaand preferably that few manual operations be required.

It is, accordingly, another object of this invention to provide for substantially 'fully automatic machinery for the fabrication, sterilira-v tion, and transport to automatic filling andcapping apparatus for container of the character above alluded to in uniform and continuous sequence, whereby, while. the milk is being pasteurized, the container is being constructed and the milk and container concurrently approach tively small carrier and storage space when the parts of the container are in folded or collapsed state during such transport and storage; the containersmust normally be given treatment to insure their sterility immediately prior to filling with the milk to be filled at any event and so are best and most economically both assembledto expanded or container form and sterilized prior to filling with the milk to be contained thereby; filling and capping machine can also attend to the container assembling and sterilizing mechanism with the incident economy in personnel charges against the ultimate product.

It is oneof the principal objectsof this invention to attain the above recitedobjectives through the employment of the principles hereinafter set forth. I I

Various typesof paper containers have been proposed for the packaging of fresh milk some of which have proven eminently successful both from a mechanical and from an economic asandthe attendant responsible for the pect. Othertypes, whilemechanically prefer- I able to the more successful, fail because of their uneconomical aspects.

Applicant employs a type of container which is of the general shape of the latter type, that is, to-have better mechanical properties than the types now in use, and which is capable of low cost manufacture comparable to thoseof such successful types.

Accordingly this invention is further concerned with means for fabricating containers of-this character at low cost and mechanical characteristics.

In order to achieve improved economy'here, as

to have best possible izr other highly developed arts, it becomes necesto employmethods and means which are the filling machine, each having been fully processed for association with the other, and whereby, during theirv processing, they have been in the same plant, under the control of the same operator.

Other and specific objects of the invention will .be in part apparent and in part specifically referred to in the following description and in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown preferred and modified mechanisms for achieving the various objects and in connection with which the methods hereof are rendered effective.

In the drawings:

Figure I is'a fragmentary perspective view of the fabricating machine, this view being presented chiefly for the purpose of illustrating relative positions of the various mechanisms.

Figures 11 to We illustrate, in fragmentary form, the construction and operation of the mechanism for feeding and expanding the con tainer body.

Figure V is a fragmentary plan of the fabricating machine, certain parts and mechanisms being removed to expose others. i

bottom feeding and assembling mechanism.

Figures VII to IX illustrate, in fragmentary way, the mechanism for bringing the body and bottom portions of the container together.

Figures X-and XI show details of mechanism- ,for translating the body from processing position it self controlled, that is, of the automatic variety,

structure for breaking to processing position in relation to each other. Figure XII is an elevation of a modified sectionalized breaker head.

Figure XIIa is an elevation of the preferred the tabs of the end wall. Figure XIII is a section on the line |3--l3 of Figure VII.

Figure XIV is a sectional elevation through the I beat and pressure processing mechanism.

Figures XV to XVIII illustrate the construction of the integrating heads for applying pressure and heat when positioned as at 434 in Figure m- Figure VI is a fragmentary plan view of the elevation, fragmentary plan, and three fragmentary views, the construction and operation of the sterilizing and waxing machine.

Figures XXVI to XXVIII show the various parts of the container as referred to in the specification and the latter illustrates the body blank as received by the machine.

Figure XXIX is a sectional detail on the line 29-29 of Figure XI.

Figures XXX to XXXVI illustrate by side, end, and fragmentary views the preferred construction of a body feed.

The container of this invention is partially fabricated from two portions illustrated in Figures XXVI and XXVII. The body portion 2 is received in collapsed condition and is of such form, illustrated in end view in Figure XXVIII, as to be expandible to a four sidewall closure of frustro-pyramidal configuration. This body portion 2 is preformed from a fiat stiff sheet, scored or weakened along four lines. 4 on one side of the blank and is provided with a lap portion 6 along one score line which is subsequently glued to the inside edge surface area 8 of the remote side wall portion II].

A property retained in the material of the body portion after formation thereof is employed in the subsequent handling of the blank by the fabricating or assembling machine and, accordingly, it is desirable to point out that, as shown in Figure VII, the two inner sidewall forming portions l8 and 20 remain in the same plane, that is without bending the material along their common scoreline l2. The remote sidewall portions 10 and II are folded along the scorelines l4 and I6 and flattened against the respectively adjacent inner side wall forming portions l8 and 20 so that the lap portion 6 lies interiorly of sidewall ID. The material along scoreline 22 is retained without bending. The lap being bonded along the flap and area 8, it will be appreciated that the body has a certain resistance to expansion insured by the as yet unbent material along the scorelines I2 and 22. This tendency to resist expansion is employed to advantage as will hereinafter be pointed out.

It will be observed from Figure XXVI that the edges 24 form angles less than ninety degrees with the scorelines and it will be appreciated that there is only one relative position of these edges in which they are all in the same plane and that is when the edges lie in the same plane at right angles to each other. In this latter condition the lower edges form a uniplanar bottom which insures a container which can be set on any flat surface and expected to-remain there in stable equilibrium.

By securing the edges in the same plane the true form of a frustro-pyramidal shell is insured with its accompanying strength and rigidity.

, The second portion of the open container consists in the flat stiff paper blank 26 having a generally square conformation 28 which forms the bottom area exposed to the interior of the container in final form and four lateral tabs 30 each comprising a portion 32 the end edges of which diverge at an angle corresponding to the angles 34 of body 2, such end edges terminating at the end of the scoreline 35. The second portion 31 As will be observed in Figure VII, the portions 32 are bonded to the areas along the lower edges of the sidewalls and interiorly thereof with the end edges of the portions 32 lying snugly in the comers formed by the scorelines l4, I6, 22, and I2, there being suflicient abutment to form a seal of substantial strength. The portions 31 are lapped on the outside of the edges of the side walls in juxtaposition to the portions 32. Accordingly the tabs 30 embrace the lower edges of the side walls and, being bonded thereto, form a rigidizing brace therefore capable of supporting the entire container and its contents on the rectangular hollow wall section below the bottom portion 20, this latter being therefore relieved from exposure to puncturing and wear. This relieved bottom also permits ease of handling the container in various ways incident to its processing and the area subject to frictional contact is minimized.

The body portion and the bottom portion are assembled into a rigid open-topped container of frustro-pyrarnidal shell conformation from their fiat conditions, as illustrated in Figure XXVIII by a series of steps performed in various sequential positions in a machine which receives these elements respectively in piled and or columnar relationship and transports them from such relationship for processing in step by step manner.

The body portions 2 are fed through a hopper from which they are released individually to a traveling expanding mechanism which transports and incident thereto expands this portion so that His placed in a bottom inserting position where it is received and held by a second transporting mechanism. The bottom portions are fed from their hopper and transported to a gluing position where a bottom applying mechanism applies glue to the bottom tabs and applies the bottom to the body portion.

The body and bottom portions are henceforth transported as a unit by the second transporting mechanism to a position where the bottom tab portions 31 are folded or broken along the scoreline 36 to an angle such that they extend reversely along portions 32 but do not necessarily contact the sidewall to which they willsubsequently be bonded.

From the foregoing position the unit is translated to a moving integrating device which receives the unit and applies pressure and heat to the portions to be bonded to rigidly seal the portions together, applying the heat and pressure for a fixed time interval and at the end of this time discharging the unit for reception by further translating means and for subsequent sterilization and application of a wax coating as will be described in due course.

The various mechanisms are described in conigelction with the drawings in their proper order e ow:

Body hopper, body jeedingyand expanding mechanism In Figures I to V there is shown a mechanism for removing a body blank 2 from a vertical hopper I00 having vertically disposed guideways I32 and bottom shoulders I04 and I06 for supporting a stack of body blanks in the guide ways. Shoulders I04 underlie theside of the blank at a, b, Figure V, and the supporting portionthereof is'slottedas at III to permit movement of the blank to the left as viewed in each reciprocation thereof to theleft as shown in,

Figure II. Plunger H is reciprocated in timed relation to other mechanisms by means of an oscillating crank arm II4 suitably connected as by a pitman to a second crank on the oscillated shaft II5which latter shaft is oscillated from main drive shaft II8 (Figure I) by a suitable pitman I20 connected to said shaft by a crank I22.

After its release from the hopper the body 2 falls into the cradle forming arms I24, Figures I to V for carriage and expansion into the dotted line position d of Figure II; Cradle arms I24 are pivotally and adjustably secured on the projecting end I25 of shaft I20 by a screwI30, the members I24 being there possessed of the property of adjustment to the angularity of the blank edges'as indicated in Figure V and being rotatable from the position of Figure III to that of Figure IV about the axis of shaft I28.

Shaft I28 is carried in a bearing I32 which is slidably-carried by a sliding bracket I34 secured to a slide member I35 which is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on oscillating arm I30,-whereby the positions of the cradle members I24 may be juxtaposed and adjusted for bodies 2 of different lengths and side angularities. Arms I38 are secured to shaft II5 for oscillation therewith between positions e and j as indicated in Figure II, such oscillation being efaaacpsa and of generally inward and downward converfected from a pitman I20 as heretofore described.

The cradle members I24 are caused to assume angular positions about the axis of shaft I28 corresponding to the positions indicated in Figures III and IV so as to present open arms for reception of the blank 2 in the first position and to thereafter immediately firmly grip the blank and to partially expand it to a position somewhat as indicated in FigureIV. To eiIect movement of the cradle members I24 between these positions there is rigidly secured to the shaft I28 a cam arm I40 extending into the path of a c'ontrol'member or plunger I42 slidably carried in eye members I44 and provided with an enlarged head I45 for engagement and release from the stationary control stop or frame members I48, springs I50 secured to the arms I40 and the sliders I35 serving to bias the arms to the body expanding position and to hold them in this position except when plunger head I45 engages against the stops I48.

The oscillating arms I38 not only rotate about the axis of the shaft II5 but also oscillate about pivot pin axis I52, Figures 11 and V, being biased to a position at right angles thereto by flat springs I54 secured to the pivotal bell crank I55 and extending therefrom to bear upon the flat surface of the square shaft as shown in Figure II.

ttidn with respect to the .axis of the shaft H5 gencc with respect to each other as shown in Figures II and V. The tips I50 of the oscillating arms I38 travel on the outside or remote sides of the cam members I50 in proceeding toward the horizontal position? e of Figure II and, just prior to the upper terminus of the cam member I50, the plunger head I45 abuts the underside of stop I48 and is arrested so thatthe Y shaped cradle members I24 move to the open arm position shown in Figure III. Then tips I55 clear the end of cam I50 stationary leaf springs I52 force tips I58 inwardly toward each other thus carrying heads I45 out of abutting relation with stops I40 whereupon springs I50 rotate the cradle members to the position of Figure IV in which it will be noted that the bottoms of the troughsthereof have approached each other and caused the initial expansion of the body blank as shown.

tendency thereof to resist expansion. is now operative to cause the same to firmly expand into the arms of the cradle means in a manner to prevent dropping therefrom as wellas to prevent longitudinal shifting with respect thereto.

The direction of rotation of the shaftvll5 is reversed as the tips I58 clear the end of the cam I50 and the release of body 2 is caused to occur in time enough to permit it to drop onto arms I24 whereupon it is immediately given the collapsing action and a translation in the direction of the position d of Figure II.

The tip I58 of arms I38 being now on the inside of-cam I 50 and moving downwardly the convergence of the cams causesthe cradleinembers to approach each other to fully expand the body and to slightly collapse it to the diamond .a purpose to be explained. This over-expanded condition is maintained into the position d of Figure II corresponding to which the tips I58 of arms I38 are released for "divergent movement under the influence of flat springs I54. Such release of the arms I38 carries the cradle members I24 away from each other'andfrom the body to a position as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure Iva, the body having been released to take the position (1 in the cradle of a carrier later to be described more in detail but which may now be referred to as elements 325, 328, 500, and 535 of Figures XI and X respectively.

indicated and having cleared its cradles thereof,

their movement is again reversed by shaft H5 and the this now travel on the outside of cam I50 to the position e again for the reception of another body blank and a repetition of the cycle of its activity.

The opening of the blank. 2 may be certainly initiated by a separator wedge I54 placed in the path of movement of the blank under action of picker IIO so as to split the'large end of the blank slightly as it enters the position 0 'thus insuring a spreading thereof. The wedge I54 is pivotally mounted on a shaft I55 spring biased to the full line position of Figure II so that the same may followtheblank edge and create .a slight drag. Such initiating means is not necessary where the'body blanks are received in perfectlyfolded condition. y

It is preferable to insure that the edges of the blanks lie in the same plane by means of a form ing weight I68 having bearing portions I10 to engage the top of the blankstack opposite the shoulders I04 and I06. A passage is provided in the rear bearing portion to clear picker H0.

The, frame I48 is carried on columns I12 supported by 'a istatio'nary plate "4 on the main body of the machine, as shown in FigureI, and to the lower ends of the inner columns are adjustably secured the lower ends of the cams I60 as by clamps I16. 4 5

The hopper I may vary in length toward the left in Figure 11 so that blanks 2 of varying height may be accommodated and the sliders I36 are therefore adjustable along arms I38. The guideways I02 are suitably secured together and rest in frame I48 on an angle piece, whereby the same may be shifted to the right or left to accommodate body blanks of different lengths, the open ends of the blanks being of the same cross section. A different conformer I68 is necessary for each size blank operated upon.

The adjustment at I30 is varied for different size blanks, as is that at I16. A buffer spring is provided at I80 to prevent overtravel of the tips I58 on release at position e, Figure II.

The bottom end of a shorter blank would take a position h. in Figure II, the opposite end coinciding with that of the larger blank.

In Figures XXX to XXXVI an alternative mechanism to serve as a hopper, feeder and expander to place the expanded body in the position d is shown to comprise a horizontally dis posed trough member formed by sidewall members IOI secured to plate I14 to form a trough hopper of trapezoidal section corresponding to the flattened contour of the body blank.

Reciprocatively mounted in guide slots I03 inthe side walls of the slot is a feeder plate I65 disposed within the trough and having tongues I0'I passing through said slots rigidly secured to arms I09 forming part of sliders III sliding on the longitudinal rods H3 and biased toward the position (I by a weight W carried by acable II5 trained over suitable sheaves II'I.

Feeder plate I05 bears against the rearmost of a batch of body blanks 2 which are fed toward the right thereby and through the discharge end under control of a unit discharge mechanism comprising a set of similar gate devices H9.

Each gate comprises an oscillatory head formed by axially aligned plates I2I and I23 joined by an integral circular section I25 whereby to form an annular groove between said plates of a thickness or section sufficient to receive the edge of one only of the collapsed body blank 2.

Plate I2I is generally circular, is disposed away 'from the observer of Figure XXIH, and is cut away along a chord tangent to the section I25. Plate I23 is generally segmental and is juxtaposed to the cutaway portion of plate I2I and extends a substantial distance in overlapping relation with plate I2I as at I29, Shafts I21 are rotatively mounted in trunnions I3I and are given an oscillatory movement from an oscillating shaft I33 driven from shaft I I8 and acting through pitman I35.

As shown in Figure XXXI, plates H9 lie in the path of the gravity fed body blanks. The rim of the plate H9 is knife-edged to permit the same to enter between the first and second body blank. In. the position shown, the blank' cannot move beyond the plate I2I. By a downward pull on the pitman I35, the chords I3'I are brought into coincidence with the inner edge of the sidewalls IOI of the trough whereupon the first blank is forced forwardly and is stopped by the juxtaposed portion of the plate I23. Rotation has now stopped and the portion I of the plate I2I is opposite the dividing plane between the first and second blank. Upon reversal of the"ro-.

tation, portion I4I enters between the first and second member in this plane whereby to separate them slightly and to block the path of the second blank. At this stage the overlapping portion I39 insures theexact positioning of the two body -members for insertion of the knife edge of the memberI2I until it has entered a substantial distance.

The reversed rotation continues to the position shown in Figure XXIH during which a cam member I43, mounted on the member I2I in trailing relation to the releasing and overlapping portion I39 of member I23, forces the body blank forwardly clear of the forward extent of the member I23. I

As the blank is released it drops into the waiting arms of a cradle mechanism which translates, expands and deposits the expanded body member to the position d for release to other mechanism later described. Cradle members I45 comprise a one of the legs I49 of which is very short as shown to permit entry of the blank edge. Cradle member I45 is pivoted as at PM for lost motion with respect thereto between adjustable stops I53 in response to gravity and to conform to the en'- veloped edges of the body blank. The stops are so adjusted that the upper ends of the V members are gravitally biased inwardly and to engage the edge of the body blank at or substantially at the same time that the lower end engages the blank.

The pivot I5I is so located that after a certain amount of rotation of the leg I55 inwardly, the line of action becomes such as to cause the member I45 to move upwardly against the upper stop wherein the desired degree of overexpansion is attained for the overexpanded body blank. The pivot I5I and stops I53 are carried upon one leg I55 of a crank the other leg I5'I of which forms a cam follower for a stationary closed-path cam I59. The crank is bodily car- 'ried by the longitudinally reciprocative slide member I6I driven by shaft I33 by linkages I63 and I65 from a position to receive the blank as it is released by gates II9 to a position for release to the position d. The cam I59 is so constructed and arranged that the cradle arms approach the release position of the blank from a position laterally of the gates II9, being released from such lateral position to drop directly inwardly in embracing relation with the edges of the blank as the same is released from the gate. A portion of the legs I49 adjacent the lower end thereof and between the ends of said legs is cut away so as to clear the cam ejector on plate I2I and the timing is such that the lower end of legs I40 comes in just behind the said ejector cam and just preceding the time of final release from the groove by the head I23. By this construction there is no time when the blank is not positively positioned incident to the transfer from the magazine.

' j aaaaoua heretofore explained in connection with the first modification describedr As soon as the position d is reached the-cam I58 functions to release the blank and the arm m follows cam m by such a return path therein that the arms I45 remain ,retracted until again in enveloping relationto I l th releasing position of the succeeding from the gates II8.

Bottom blank: Hopper; feed glue amrlicdtort and bottom inserting'mechanism stacked between vertical guides I86 in justaposi- I 'tion to the hopper release chamber I88 formed in the members I88 having guide slots I82 therein for receiving the oppositeedges of the bottom blanks and guiding them to a position LFigur'e overlying the glue applicators and in line with the bottom applying plunger.

The bottom blank is fed from the bottom of the stack by a bottom blank picker I86 traveling in llideways I88, actuation being had from a floating link 288 carried by the pin 282 and a link 284 pivoted to a stationary'pin 286, an intermittent oscillation being imparted to the floating link by a thrust link 288 operated from an eccen blank tric crank arm 2III.pinioned for drive from an intermittently unidirectionally rotated shaft 2I2 which is given a ninety degree movement for each body blank and bottom blank inserted. Therefore, a quarter turn of shaft 2I2 causes the juxtapositioning of the bottom m blank to the plunger I84 and the upper (bottom) end of the 7 body member 2 in its position d as shown in Figures II and VII, and returns bottom picker I96 i the pot with their axis in a square andtheir inner cylindrical elements forminga closed square of a size corresponding to the dimensions of the bottom area 28 of the bottom blank 26. Feed rollers 2I8 rotate in the liquid glue 220 and carry the same to rollers 2I6.

. The rollers are preferably power driven directly from main drive shaft to insure uniform feed of glue to the tabs and to this end one set of rollers 2I8 may be bevel-geared together and driven by flexible cable from the continuously driven main drive shaft II8, the rollers 2I'6 being preferably driven so that their inner peripheries move upwardly as a result of frictional contact with rollers 2 I8.

Thesquare formed by the sides of the rollers area 28 and forcing it from slots I92 and onto rollers 2I6 whereon the tabs 36 are arrested and the main portion continues downwardly causing the tabs to be bent along the score line. 38 to a position at right angles to bottom portion 28 and to wipe a film of paste ontothe lower surface of thetabs after which the plunger I84 forces the bottom into the end of the body 2, as shown at k in Figure VIII.

A tight fit of the portion 28 within the slit-- rounding portion of the body 2 is desirable and therefore the plunger I94 is of dimensions such that its edges overlie thesc'ore lines 38 of the bottom, so that, as the plunger passes the rollers 2I-6, the tabs are broken back at right angles to the portion 28 and a definite crease is effected along the score line.

Because the tabs snugly engage the sides of the plunger as the position It is attained, the return movement 'of the plunger toward its upper" position tends to drag the bottom away from the body. In order to prevent such removal, a separating head 228 is provided which separates the plunger I84 from the bottom after,

the bottom has reached its applied position as shown in Figure'VIII in'dotted outline of the separating head.

The construction of the mechanism for operating the applyin and separating heads will now be described. Referring to Figures VIII and IX, the head I94 is carried by a vertically reciprocative plunger 238 sliding in bushings 232 and 234. supported on the auxiliary frame plate 236 by a cylindrical housing 238 and said frame plate respectively, all as shown.

Plunger 238 is given an intermittent reciprocative motion by a telescopic cam arm 248 2I6 is aligned to coincide axially and angularly with the adjacent end of the body blank in the position d. l v

The body and bottom blanks having taken "positions d and 7' respectively, they are concurrently moved toward each other, the body 2 being pushed upwardly by a plunger head 222 hollow shaft 258, Figure I, which is driven from an intermittently actuated and locked helical pinion 268 from a helical gear sector 262 and locking sector 264 driven by shaft H8, whereby gear 252 is given one complete rotation at uniform speed by sector 262 and then positively stopped by the zero pitch sector key 264 entering a longitudinal keyway on the pinion 260.

Head I84 is therefore given a simple harmonic motion by its drive mechanism and is positively locked in inactive position;

It is. apparent therefore, that the head I84 moves into position It with a diminishing velocity and negative acceleration whereby the application of the bottom to the body is effected with a minimum of impact to the body and yet theapproach of thebottom to the body israpidly achieved.

The control and actuation of the separating head 228 is such that it moves with the head I94 until the bottom is placed in position It actuated by cam and follower assembly 224 driven by the main drive shaft H8, and the upp r edges. abutting the ledge 228 surrounding the terminal ends of the wire guide strips 228. Mean- -while the bottom applicator plunger I84 is moved downwardly engaging the bottom blank'over the the next bottom blank.

Separating head 228 is fixed to the lower end of shaft 266 which is journalled in head, I94 and the arms of a bracket 268 carried on the upper end of shaft 238 for reciprocative movement longitudinally of plunger 238. Pivotally carried on the cylindrical yoke of bracket 268 is a cam controlled latch arm 218 biased into holding relation with a collar 288 on shaft 266 by a sprin 212 carried on the platform arm 214 of bracket 268.

A compression spring 216, surrounding shaft 266 between collar 288 and arm 218 of the bracket, biases the shaft and separator head in extending relation to the applicator head I94. The permitted relative movement is determined by the thickness of the latch 218, or the distance of its upper surface from the surface of the platform 214.

Latch 218 is moved against the tension of its spring to release shaft 266 to remain in the dotted line position of Figure VIII by a stationary cam 282 placed in the path of the latch arm to move the same out of the path of collar 288 at the instant head I94 has placed the bottom in position 70. Thereupon the spring 216, which is of comparatively low compressive effect, simply holds the stripper head 228 in the dotted line position.

When the head has returned upwardly a distance equal to the thickness of latch 218, platform 214 engages collar 288 to cause shaft 266 and stripper head 228 'to travel as a unit upwardly whereby to clear the container unit at the earliest possible moment to permit it to be moved laterally if desired. The head I94 is preferably beveledback from the lower edge to reduce friction on the tabs (not shown). 6

At this stage of movement of the plunger 238, the head 228 is still held in extended relation to head I94 by spring 216, and collar 288 holds the latch arm 218 in inactive position.

In order to cause the stripper head toresume its full line position of Figure VIII, that is, in substantially flush relationship with head I94, a reset mechanism is provided comprising a trunnion support 284 carried on plunger 238 carrying a pivotal lever 286 having pin and slot connection with shaft 266 whereby movement of said lever causes longitudinal movement of shaft 266.

Arranged in the path of movement of the free end of the lever 286, adjacent the upper end of said path, is a stationary stop or cam 288. Upon engagement of said stop by said lever, the latter is rotated counterclockwise about its fulcrum and causes the shaft 266 to move more rapidly in the upward direction than plunger 238 whereby spring 216 is compressed and latch 218 is released to latching position under collar 288 as shown.

The hollow support 238 is slotted as at 298 and 292 for operation of the plunger and stripper control as is apparent from the drawing.

If desired, the head 228 may be nested into the head 294 to effect a perfectly flat plunger surface, but, since the head 228 may be of thin metal this refinement is unnecessary where small forces are involved.

that the cam 224 is such that the excursion made by body 2 upwardly is of short duration and occurs just before the bottom blank reaches position K of Figure VIII, the excursion being made without loss of time.

In order to insure the proper relative positioning of the bottom in the body blank, the head I94 is provided at its corners with diagonally outward disposed gauge blades I95 which are disposed upwardly from the bottom surface of head I94 a distance equal to the width 32 of the bottom blank, the blade entering between the ends of adjacent tabs 38 and engaging the body blank corners at the end thereof whereby to insure an exact coincidence of the scorelines 38 with the edge of the body blank. If desired, a more positive gauging may be insured by placing the gauging on the stripper head. The gauges and stripper head relocate the bottom with respect to the body end as the head I94 recedes.

The bottom having been applied to the body in the correct position, it adheres thereto by reason of the glue between the opposed areas with the tab portions 31 projecting in the manner shown at I in Figure VII in which position these tab portions are bent down in a manner and by the mechanism later to be described.

Positioning and interposition transfer mechanisms Movable mechanism is provided which assumes successive positions and in-each position holds the body or unit for limited movement by another agency to effect further operations on the body or unit, or to finally discharge the unit for transfer to a wax applying unit.

Since it is proposed that bodies 2 of various axial lengths shall be provided with bottoms by one machine it is necessary to make the concerned parts quickly adjustable so that changes may be made for diflferent sizes in a few minutes.

The last operation described above was that of applying the bottom while the body 2 was given an excursion from the position d of Figure VIII. The body 2 is held in position d in such a manner that it may have a motion of translation along its axis but none of rotation while head 222 gives the translation.

When the body 2 is released to take the position d by the cradle arms I24, it has been permitted to nest itself, by utilizing its own tendency to square itself from the diamond shape of Figure Na, in a set of superposed cradle forming members 388 and 382, Figure I, secured for intermittent step by step rotation, on tubular shaft 384 and to telescoping shaft 386 in shaft 384 respectively, the latter shaf-t being slidably keyed to said hollow shaft for rotation therewith I gear 262 in alternation with the shaft 256 and when not driven, are locked against rotation by the zero pitch tooth or key. In this case the Referring now to Figure VII it will be noted 76 In Figures I and VII the cradle assemblies 388 mechanisms 3) and 312 which are paired in superposed nesting sets located in space quadrature about the central axis of rotation 306.

As shown in Figure XI the lower nesting sets furnish radially flared recesses 314 defined by bounding elements M6 and 3|8 forming part of the lower cradle member and, preferably, having upwardly disposed inclined wall forming portions 320 furnishing a support tending to permit the body2 to square itself in thenest. resilient arms 322 and 324 are .secured to the bounding elements and provide notches 326 and 323 which are-positionable so that when the squared body blank is placed therein, the section of the blank will be square asshown at n, the resilient arms resiliently support the body blank or unit in a manner to permit vertical upward movement as heretofore described.

In the position 0, Figure XI, the section of the body blank is shown as' over-expanded, or reversely partially collapsed which is the position to which it has been constrained prior to release into position d, Figure II. It will now be readily appreciated that, upon release of the cradlearms 124, or I 45, Figure .XXXV, the body member itself expands until its corners engage into the notches 328 and 326 which hold the carton perfectly square in such position. The flared recesses are such as to permit entry of the leading corner of the container, asshown at 336.

The upper end of the body blank .is received in the position and expands to the position indicated in the flared notch recess 332 forming the upper nesting elementof. the set.

Together, these nestingelements form a means of fixing the position-of the body 2 in alignment with the bottom applicator and against rotation about its own axis. When thepusher 222 rises against the lower end of the blank the latter, being maintained square, sits squarely on the pusher surface, and is forced axially upwardly. Asthe pusher moves downwardly the spring 216 impels the body 2 downwardly into the position d to clear the same from the plate I32.

After resuming the position it with the bottom attached, the unit is carried clockwise to the position n where it is stopped for an interval during which the next succeeding body is inserted at 0, after which the unit is carried to the position p, Figures VII, X, and XI. There,it comes to rest in its rotational movement, and is acted upon to bend the tabs 31. over and outwardly and downwardly as shown in Figure ma.

Secured to the upper surface of frame plate I82, around an opening 334 therein, is a frame member 343 providing bearing support for four pivotally mounted tab bending tongues 336 carried. on shafts 338. Shafts 333 are driven by mutually interconnecting bevel gears 342, Figure V, and by a shaft extension 344 given angular oscillation by a cam arm 346 and a cam 348 driven from shaft 256, Figure VI.

While at the position p the body is iven an upward excursion by a pusher 350 also driven Pairs of 7 move upwardly the breaker arms 333 come down on the inside and, moving outwardly and downwardly past the adjacentedge of the body 2, bend the tab portion downwardly to a position at an acute angleto the side of the body. butshort of actual contact. In order to positively retain the shape of the remainder of the bottom while the banding is accomplished, both the interior and the exterior of the container is rigidly held in position.

Carried by the breaker arms 336 arelip meinbars 352 which move in behind lips 336 and en:- gage against the inner sides of tab portions 32.

Individual leaf springs 354 serve to hold the cen-- tral portion 2a of the bottom down. 7

A second and more satisfactory mechanism for retaining the interior form of the bottom while by elements 336.

by a pair of arms 364 pivoted to'the frame as at 31 over is shown in Figure XIIa to comprise a w bending the tabs down is shown in Figure X11 wherein a plunger head 356 shaped to snugly fit within the bottom recess carries stripper leaf springs 353 and is driven into the recess as the breakers 336 descend. The head is carried by a plunger 36!) working'in a slidewayr362 and is resiliently driven by a pair of springs 364 carried on the breaker arms. By this construction the form is fixed before the portions 31 are engaged The leaf springs insure release of the unit as pusher 353 is retracted downwardly.

The exterior form of the container is fixed partially by the member 332 along two adjacent sides. The remaining sides are briefly engaged 366 and actuated by thecam 368 to engage the said remaining sides, and to a clearing position such as to permit free movement of the body 2 into position 2). Cam 363 is driven upwardly and downwardly by a pin 313 carried on shaft 333 and passing through a suitable opening in the cam shaft 312. Upon retraction of breakers 336 to the position of Figure VII, the unit is ready for translation to a heat-treating mechanism where the portions 32 and 31 are subjected to compression and heat to integrate the same with the embraced edge of the body 2.

The preferred structure for breaking thelips square plate 333 carried by a vertically reciprocative plunger 3 sliding ina guideway 343 and having a stop pin 345 for abutment'with a stop 341 to exactly terminatethe downward motion of the plate so'that itsforming portion 343 stops in a fixed position with the edges of the body seated against the beveled edge of said forming portion. 4 v

Pivotally carried by the plate 333 are four breaker leaves 35l (two are not shown in order to retain clarity) actuated from their spring biased full line position to their dotted line position. by articulated linkages 353, 355, and 351 under control of the crank 353 secured to-shafts 338. In operation from the position shown, the arms 353 move downwardly. v he various elements below links 351 traveling as a unit, pin 345 is arrested at stop 341 whereupon the plate 333 also stops with its forming portion 343 inside the bottom. At this stoppage, continued movement of links 351 causes plate 355 to slide on plunger 34!, compressing spring 36! and causing breaker leaves 35| to rotate to the dotted line position to break the portions 31 over. Stops 363 are provided to exactly limit the rotation of the breaker leaves. After this breakage, the breaker by a cam from shaft H8. As the tab portions 31 5 head is withdi awn in reverse order.

-Heat and pressure applying mechanism Referring to Figures I, XIV, and XV to XVIII, the heat and pressure applying mechanism comprises a stationary frame 400 centrally through a bushing 402 of which is fixedly secured a vertical tubular column 404 having fixed against rotation in the upper end thereof an internally threaded nut 406 threaded for rotation through which is a supporting column shaft 408 which is provided with a keyway M0 at its lower end for rests upon bearing 424,'being centered with respect thereto by an end pin 428 forming part of shaft 408. Depending from cap 426 is a tubular suspension sleeve 430 suitably secured to which is a circular turret 432 depending from the peripheral area of which is a circular arrangement of heat and pressure applying heads 434 into which the bottom ends of successively assembled units are thrust by continuously juxtaposed pads 436 carried on plungers 438 sliding in bushings 440 carried by turntable 442 carried for rotary support around column 404 on thrust bearing 444 and fixedly secured in driving relation to turret drive sleeve 446 which telescopes over tube 404 for line support thereby and rotation therearound and which telescopes within turret suspension sleeve 430 and is provided with a vertical keyway 448 which receives key 450 fixedly mounted through turret hub 452 and suspension sleeve 430 whereby rotation of turnntable 442 through the agency of ring gear 454 and suitable gearing from continuously driven shaft II8 causes torque transmission from turntable to turret drive sleeve 446 through key 450 to turret 432, irrespective of the vertical position of key 450 as determined by the position in nut 406 of shaft 408.

Carried on and fixed to cap 426 is an electrical insulator ring 456 embedded in which is a pair of concentric sliprings 460 from which are tapped terminal busses 458, the latter being therefore fixed in relation to the heads 434 to the heating elements of which current conductors may therefore be directly led by suitable insulating cable.

Fixedly secured to the vertically adjustable but otherwise stationary plate I82, by means of a hollow bracket 462, Figure XIV, is a brush carrier hood 464 supporting therewithin in electrically insulating manner, a pair of brushes 466 for engagement with slip rings 460. When shaft 408 is rotated to give vertical displacement to the turret, hood 464 is moved in the same direction and by the same amount by reason of the concurrent vertical adjustment of plate I82.

The power leads may be passed along or within bracket 462 and a second set of straight line electrical brush and bus connectors arranged on plate I82 and a stationary support respectively, so as to completely insulate flexible connections.

It will be observed that by this construction the turret head may be adjusted while the mafering with the continuous application of heat to the heads 434.

Considering now the Figures XV to XVIII in association withthe Figures I and XIV, each of the heat and pressure applying heads 434 comprises a massive heat storage body 468 provided with a neck 410 for securement by means of cap nut 412 to turretv 432 as shown. v Arranged on the lower fiat surfaceof the head is a shaping and heat applying anvil 4140f a conformation to tightly occupy the bottom recess of the container unit and to have the adjacent tab areas in-contact therewith, this anvil being substantially frustro-pyramidal in conformation.

Pivotally mounted on the side surfaces of the body 468 between ears 416 on shaft 418 are pressure applying jaws 480 biased to inactive position from a pressure'applyin-g position adjacent side surfaces 482 of the anvil by a body seated spring 484. The pressure face 486 of jaw 480 is moved toward the anvil through actuation of the tail piece 488, in timed relation later explained, by a cam pin 490 sliding "in pin-way492. and thrusting upon adjustable screw 494, said cam pin having an angular cam surface 496 for actuation by one angular surface of the frustro-pyramidal multiple cam body 498 formed on cylindrical plunger 500 vertically reciprocatively mounted in the central cylindrical bore 502. Integral with the plunger and cam body is a gear rack formation 504, and passing into the diagonal pinion shaft bore 506 in said body in a direction at right angles to the bore 502, is-a cam operated rock shaft 508 provided with a pinion 5I0 for engag-- ing said rack formation 504. Cams 496 and 498 will be observed 'to be self locking since the squared end of the'=-cam"496 at 5I2 rides up on the cylindrical surface of. the plunger 500.

Received in a bore, 5l4 in the body 468, is an electrical heatingunit which is preferably connected electrically-"to terminals 468 through a suitable temperature regulating thermostatic switch responsive to the temperature of the head to control the same, in a manner known to the heatingart- The heads 434 are secured to the turret 432 in such manner that their'diagonal vertical secchine is running from shaft II8 without intertions lie in a radical plane from th turret axis and so that theeam shafts 508 extend nearly radially.

Fixedly secured to cam shafts 508"are the cam follower rocker arms 5I8 provided with cam follower pins 520..a nd 522 the former of which engages a relatively fixed cam 524, Figure V, on the vertically adjustable-plate I82, to cause opening of the jaws 48 0. and release .of the. processed unit, and permit ejection" offthe unit downwardlyby leaf spring 526, hieh diiring the heat and pressure period, has fbeen 'flattenedagainst, 414 by the bottom 28.", I 'ljhe' iorward spring hasa slightly greater downward displacement than the, rearward in order to deflect the lower end to certainly clear the 680i By' this construction, any tend" tegrate the container material with the-anvil is overcome. 4

Cam pin 420 is operated upon by a second relatively stationary cani'530, likewise mounted on said plat I82 to cause closing of said jaws in timed relation to ,other'operating' mechanisms as hereinafter set forth;

Transfer from cradlemechanis nf to integrator Referring now? again to Figures X and XI it will be observedfith'at the "flared notches of the cradle members' 300 ans-mare formed partially by the banding members 3|8 and 608 which are pivotally mounted on said cradlemembers by pins 602.

The arms 3l8 are biased to normal nest forming position in which the associated structure grips the containerbody 2 in nested relation by springs 604 anchored on said cradle members and connected topins 606 which conveniently extend through and beneath the member 300*by way of arcuate slots 608 formed in the plate 300 and forming limiting stops for swinging of said arm 3I8 about the pivot 682 by reason of the spring 604 and a cam 610 lying beneath the plate 300 and fixedly mounted on the top of plate I14 and having a contour lying inthe path of pin 606 substantially as shown invFigur XI whereby the arm 3l8 is caused to move to an open position, as shown in dotted lines, to release the lower end of the unit body for engagement by a second transfer structure presently to be described.

As the pins 606 follow the cam surface 6105 the pin is caused to engage a follower arm6l2 of a crank couple 614 lying over thethen position of the notch and just inside the corner of the unit body, to give as light clockwise rotation to said couple to cause ejectment of this lower end and also to square the lower end into the arms of the gripping transfer Wheel A suitably anchored spring620 returns the ejector couple as the pin 606 clears the same. v

The arms 608 on the cradle member 302 are normally biased to form the nest for the upper portion of the body 2 by springs 622 against stops portion of the body to the guide rail 632 and the transfer star-wheel pusher 634. Suitable tongues 636 are provided on the members 302 and 600 to hold the upper portion of the body memberin the notches.

As the lower end of th unit is released at the transfer at t. The arrestof' the nesting members 3I8 and 3|6 att simply positions the unit at this point in a stationary position. After such arrest pin 606 lies in contact with cam surface Ellis. The shaft 306 having been arrested for the cycle permitting operations at positions and position t it is received in the gripping jaws 638 i and 640,- six sets of which are equally spaced on the gripping transfer mechanism 642. Jaws 640 are controlled by cam 644 fixed to plate I14 beneath'member 642 and are held in the'inactive clearing position, as illustrated for arm 648a, until the position if is cleared by said cam and springs 646, two only of which have been illustrated. Spring anchor pins 648 extend downwardly through arcuate slots 650 in member 642 to engage and follow the contour of cam 644.

After clearing the position t and afterv jaw 638 has engaged the trailing corner of the lower end of the unit as shown, the arm 6l6- engages the corner 652 of the unit and thereupon the arm-jaw 640 grips the leading corner and holds thelower end square. By this construction the unit is bodily carried with the lower end free from contact with the surface of plate I14. The

fixed jaws 638 are arcuately recessed as at 654 for clearance of the same by the corner 656 as the two travel toward position t. It will be observed that, since there is a larger number of sets of gripper jaws than nesting sets, jaws 636 move .by member 318.

p, rotates another quarter turn during the immediate forepart of which movement, member" 3I8 is sharply retracted to the dotted line position 3l8'. The plate 300 is recessed to an arcuate limit 30I to clear the released unit. The trailing jaw 638 is in engaging relation to the trailing corner of the unit at the time of release The upper ends of the units are simply pushed around star member 634, therebetween and. the guide rail 632, there being six arms to this star wheel of such conformation as to maintain the diagonal planes of the container unit radial.

The container unit, as it leaves the position p of Figure X, has its bottom portion edges flared outwardly and downwardly from which position the portions 31 tend to return to an erect position.

Such tendency is overcome and these portions held against movement beyond a horizontal plane by an end confining guide plate, Figures 1, V,

pushingsides of arms 666 of star 634 intermediately arcuately recessed at 668 as are jaws 638. Arms 666 are partially comprised of pawllike members 610 pivotally mounted as 612 and held against stops 614 by springs 616, whereby said pawl-like members may move forwardly;

counterclockwise about 612 when engaged from the rear by a passing carton after release of such carton from the succeeding arm to the heat and pressure applying head.

Assemblies 642 and 634, assisted by the guide members, convey the container unit in erect position to a position wherein its diagonal plane of symmetry occupies the common plane of the shaft axis 618 and 408, Figure XIV, to the position 11., Figure V, coming in slightly behind the centering guide 680 above the surface of the pusher plate 436, the latter being at this time in depressed position. The upper portion of the unit's leading corner comes in slightly behind the rigid guide and positioning arm 682 fixedly carried by bracket 684 on turret 432.

The right angular notches of guides 680 and 682 are positioned to align the bottom edges of the unit for insertion between the faces 482 and 486 of the anvil 414 and clamping jaws 486.

As the unit takes the position u the gripping jaw 640 moves to the position 640, Figure XI, and

immediately thereafter the container unit is forced against the guides 680 and 682 by the cam controlled aligning arm 686 pivotally mounted on bracket tail-piece 688 by a pin 690 and biased to aligning position by a spring 692. The positions of the arms 686 are determined in one limit, the aligning position, by stops 684 engageable with'the members 688, and in the other limit by. a stationary cam 695 mounted on guide 

